I glanced at Fur. He was as tense as I was. My heart raced as I asked, “Do you know anything more about my parents?”
Finster said, “We are aware of the situation regarding your parents.” She looked at one of the SOD representatives, Charles Shapiro. “Please explain.”
Shapiro looked at me. “Mr. Cohen apprised us of your parents’ arrest. One of the efforts of the rebellion is to free all political prisoners. There are many more than just your parents, but I understand your concern. We will do the utmost to rescue them.”
“Thank you,” I said. A knot the size of a pumpkin throbbed in my chest.
Fur’s and Roxanne’s faces and emotions were somber with support.
Finster spoke again. “Those actions, while important to you, I understand, aren’t the main issue. The rebels have neither the numbers, nor the armaments necessary to bring down the Test-Lit theocracy. They have undertaken their attacks with the promise of reinforcements from offworld.”
The two SOD representatives nodded.
“Sammara is committed to supporting the rebellion and is sending troops now. We have good reason to want the Test-Lits gone from power, but our population is much less than that of Dovid’s World. Our support for the rebels gives the combined forces no better than an even chance to overthrow the Test-Lits; there is no guarantee of victory. Your world has spent inordinate funds and efforts to build its military. We need more help.”
There was silence around the table. Fur looked at me and said, “Your turn.”
I addressed Finster. “You’ve read my report. I assume the others have, as well.” There were confirmatory nods. “Okay. While Reb Schvartz demanded payment from those worlds where we assisted, that fell far short of the actual degree of aid that we provided. On some of these worlds, our assistance went beyond simple veterinary care, and what we did was crucial to the survival of the worlds’ inhabitants. I secretly extracted promises of aid from some of those humans and aliens before we left their planets. After I confined Levi on the GCVS, through the Overseer we contacted all those we had assisted, including those I had not asked for help originally. They will supply troops or supplies to assist the revolution on Dovid’s World.”
Fur broke in. “It helped that Reb Schvartz insulted the inhabitants, human and nonhuman, on just about every planet we visited. Most couldn’t believe that there was a world where people like him were in power.”
Finster frowned. “Just how will these worlds be able to assist, Dr. Berger? They are scattered through this sector of the galaxy and some are primitive, without space travel.”
“Yes, some of these worlds and beings have rudimentary civilizations with no spaceflight. This is what Fur and I propose. Pronac, Certis Prime, Cennesari, and Ulm are spacefaring worlds. The Pronacians will supply a substantial army in their own spaceships. Though their atmosphere was marginal for us, they can function in ours. Certis Prime is a human-settled agrarian world. They don’t have a large military, however, their herdbeasts are excellent pack and food animals, especially the latter. Certis Prime will ship their herdbeasts with a contingent of their human handlers.”
There were nods around the table. Always have to keep an army fed.
“The main contribution of Cennesari will be a force of Hunters.” I looked around the room. “I assume you recall the Hunters from my report. Make no mistake. This is a formidable fighting force. A number of those humans who work with the Hunters will bring them in their ships.”
“What about the rest of the human Cennesarians, or whatever you call them?” asked Glazer. “Seems they owe you something, as well.”
“The Cennesari human population is not as happy with me. When I informed them that their livestock were sentient, it alienated the great majority of Cennesarians.”
My mind flashed back to Cennesari, to the cenoxen and their plight. My gut cramped but I fought it off. Would I never be free of the pain of that failure? Perhaps not.
“The Hunters will assist us. I’m more than happy with that contingent.”
Glazer harrumphed. “They coulda done more.”
I paused and drew a breath. “Ulm is another difficult one. The planet runs on a proverbial shoestring. Their technology is dated and their space fleet far from modern. They’ll send a couple of ships of their military. That aspect of their society is top notch. The flora of Ulm has an amazing array of protective mechanisms, including a variety of toxins. The Ulmians have adapted some of these for their military use.”
Murmurs around the room made me stop.
“Do you suggest that we use toxic substances as weapons?” General Finster’s voice held an edge.
I noted a frown on Roxanne’s face, as well.
“Please. Let me continue. The use of lethal poisons, whether food, water, or airborne, is not acceptable. The same is true of biological warfare. But the Ulmians have one compound that we might consider. I’m not quite sure whether to call it a hallucinogen or a tranquilizer. It has some features of both. It’s non-lethal and incapacitates the exposed person for a matter of hours. There supposedly are no deleterious aftereffects of exposure. It is most effective in confined spaces. Consider the potential loss of life—on both sides—if we have to clear out heavily defended buildings. Something like this could be useful. It’s a much more effective analog to our tear gas. I don’t urge its use—I am as reluctant as you to use biochemical weapons—but it is an option.”
Finster leaned over and spoke to Glazer. He grunted a response I could not hear.
“What about the non-spacefaring worlds?” Lieutenant Clarrett asked.
“That means Dragonworld, Lupus IV, and the Hiveworld,” I said. “Certis Prime has offered more than their herdbeasts. As an agricultural planet, they have a substantial cargo fleet. Their liners have large storage bays that will be suitable, after some modification, to convey a force of dragons to Dovid’s World. From our first-hand experience, I can tell you that a battalion of dragons is a force to be reckoned with. The dragons live to fight and are thrilled by the opportunity. They also particularly dislike Reb Schvartz.
“Next, we need to find some way to convey a troop of Lupans from their worlds to ours. They will be another intimidating fighting unit.”
Finster and Glazer conferred for a moment, then Finster spoke. “We can send a troop ship. How many do we need to transfer?”
“Several hundred, I’m guessing,” I replied. “They are a small population.”
Finster nodded. “No problem, then. One troop ship should do it.”
“Then we have the Hiveworld dwellers. Their soldiers would be an incredible strike-force, but I don’t believe that they could function outside of their hive society or their own atmosphere.”
“Then what—?” Glazer began.
“Some of the beings who have offered help don’t speak Common, or have limited knowledge of our language. We need some form of general communication, lest we have a mob rather than a coordinated army. The Hive’s overriding consciousness, The Overseer, is a telepathic mind of incredible power. It can read minds and can communicate across vast interstellar distances. As I mentioned, we used that capability when we contacted Dovid’s World, Sammara, and the various worlds we had visited. It has agreed to join our army as the central nexus for communication.”
A burst of clamor followed that announcement. When it calmed down, I said, “The Overseer itself won’t come, but it will send a small clone who can manage our needs. It will accept a ride only if Fur and I supply it, though. We leave for the Hiveworld as soon as we can fit a GCVS compartment to contain its atmosphere. It will stay in the ship and work from orbit around Dovid’s World.”
Finster sat back and motioned for quiet. “Dr. Berger, Mr. Cohen, I commend you. What you have put together is nothing short of miraculous. While you travel to get this Overseer, we will alert all the other participants and get the space-lift underway. When you return, we will commence final operations.” She looked around the room. “If there are no oth
er questions—”
“Wait,” I cried. “I do have one. Where is Reb Schvartz and what are your plans for him?”
Glazer replied. “Since you turned him over to us, he has been incarcerated in our maximum security prison. In isolation. I’m not sure he would last long in a prison full of Sammarans who well remember the atrocities of the Test-Lits. We plan to take him to Dovid’s World. When we are victorious, he’ll stand trial with the rest of their ruling council for crimes against humanity.”
“And against every other form of sentient life,” Fur said.
I nodded. As much as I would like to take personal vengeance against Levi, I recognized the need not to descend to his level.
As we exited the meeting room, Roxanne caught my arm. “I’m going with you.”
I stopped and looked at her. “We’ll go directly to Dovid’s World and into battle once we get the Overseer.”
“I’ll be a field medic. Especially for the nonhuman contingent of your army. Your efforts over the past year have proven that will work.”
I grinned. “The trip will be a hell of a lot more fun with you along instead of Levi. Hyperwave transmissions didn’t quite do it for me.”
She threw her arms around me and planted a sweet kiss on my lips. I found it was hard to return a kiss while I had an ear-to-ear grin.
***
On our trip to and from Hiveworld, Roxanne and I started out tentatively, hesitant to be demonstrative, especially in front of Fur. He seemed to find that hilarious, but gave us plenty of space. One morning we sat in the commissary, cradling cups of coffee, and gazing at one another.
“It’s not really fair, you know,” Roxanne said. “You know exactly what I’m feeling. I can’t read you.”
I huffed. “You know how I feel, even if I don’t know how to put it into words. Somehow, around you, my tongue gets all twisted up.”
She threw me a mock frown then twisted her lips in a sly grin. “I know one way to straighten out your tongue.”
I felt heat rush to my face.
Roxanne didn’t give me time to reply. “Well, I expect you to do better. After all, a girl deserves a bit of fawning.”
I kept my face serious and said, “How’s this?” I recited:
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.”
Roxanne’s mouth hung open by the time I finished and tears glistened in her eyes. She shook her head. “Cy. Oh, Cy. That is so beautiful. Did you actually write that? For me?”
Unfortunately, I had to break the spell. “I could only wish I wrote that. I meant every word, but they aren’t mine. The poem was by Elizabeth Barrett Browning from nineteenth century on earth. To me, it’s one of the most beautiful pieces ever written. And I do love you.”
She rose, placed her cup on the table, and reached for my hands. “Don’t say another word. Come with me.”
I kept my mouth shut, for once, and followed, heart beating like the cadence of a poem.
***
Shortly after that, I noted a change in our AI. Ruthie’s responses to me became very formal, almost like they were when she responded to Levi. Her responses to queries by Roxanne were even brusquer. She followed my commands to the letter, but did not engage in her usual banter. I wondered about that, but put it out of my mind. Between Roxanne and the transfer of the Overseer’s clone to the ship, I had enough to worry about.
One day, Roxanne crooked a finger toward me and motioned to her cabin. We entered and closed the door. She put her lips to my ear and said, “Can your AI hear us all the time? Even if I whisper in my quarters?” She never called Ruthie by name.
My eyebrows rose. What was she talking about? In full voice, I said, “I don’t—”
“Shh.” She put her fingers to my lips. “Whisper.”
I felt foolish, but followed her direction. “I have no idea. I’ve never thought about it.”
“I don’t trust it,” she said. “It doesn’t like me.”
I pulled away from her, eyes wide. “You’re serious?”
“Quiet,” she snapped. “I’m serious,” she whispered again. “I can tell when a wom...someone doesn’t like me. It’s creepy. I feel like I’m watched and listened to all the time. I want someplace where we can be and talk without being seen or heard.”
I nodded. “Okay. I’ll do the programming.” Easier to reprogram the AI that than argue with Roxanne. She never struck me as paranoid before, but this seemed a bit over the top.
But as I thought that, the uncomfortable feeling I had gotten about Ruthie resurfaced: Her disturbingly anthropomorphic characteristics, her bizarre responses to Levi, and my recollections of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Oh well, I would give Roxanne her privacy. A weird AI was the last thing I needed to worry about now. First, we had a war to win.
CHAPTER 22
I hunkered down behind some boulders just outside Jerusalem City, flanked by Roxanne and the dragon, He-Who-Eats-Enemies-for-Breakfast. The faces of my companions shone with a hellish glare as ruby laser fire reflected from the protecting granite. I flinched as the dull whump of a missile detonated nearby, and cringed at the thought of our casualties, both human and nonhuman. I had never held my empathic shields so tightly before, but it worked. All the emotional battering I had taken on our journey had forced me to develop them far beyond my previous capability. I worked hard on that during our trip to get the Overseer’ clone. Without it, the fighting would have incapacitated me.
The populace of Dovid’s World had rallied to the SOD once they rebelled openly. My people had had enough of despotism and terror. Things had been dicey to start until the Sammaran military force came in. Then there had been a stalemate. As General Finster had suggested, the Sammaran support alone was not enough to win the war. When Fur, Roxanne, and I arrived back on Dovid’s World with the Overseer clone, we found our alien entourage in place and eager to do battle. The Dovidian people greeted us as saviors. In the two months since, assistance in the form of munitions and supplies had come from other planets, but only after they were convinced they would be on the winning side. We had beaten down the Test-Lit forces and now had them confined to a last stand in the capitol city.
I felt like anything but a savior. I still had no word on my folks who were in the main prison adjacent to the Test-Lit headquarters. My level of anxiety had steadily risen. If not for the support of Roxanne and Fur, I would have been a basket case.
And my “army” was stymied. I felt totally incompetent as a military leader. I was a veterinarian, for crying out loud. I turned to Roxanne and Fur and yelled over the tumult of the battle. “We can’t stay pinned down like this. They have our range and are decimating us.”
“Right,” Fur shouted back. “Got any more bright ideas?”
I cringed again, this time at his words. The spot we were in was my own fault. I had thought to break our troops off in a flanking maneuver and attack from the west side of the city where the buildings were smaller. I thought the dragon “air force” would be more effective there than amongst the city center skyscrapers that were the main objectives. It turned out that gave the defenders a better look at the open sky and the incoming targets, and the open spaces on the ground where our main forces were. We took far too many casualties. The dragons and Hunters, effec
tive in close combat, were vulnerable at long range. Pronacians and Lupans could use weapons—at least the Lupans learned to in their humanoid forms; they shape-shifted for hand-to-tooth fighting.
A thought cut through from the dragon, transferred by the Overseer’s mind.
“Okay,” I said. “If we all move at once, it’ll be harder for them to pick out single targets. Overseer, pass on the plan.” When I saw He-Who-Eats nod, I yelled, “We move. Now!”
As I jumped up, accompanied by Fur, Roxanne, and the dragon, I could see an eruption of forms on the ground and in the air, all moving in the same direction. There were humans: Dovid’s Worlders, Sammarans, and the soldiers from Ulm. Outnumbering them were the nonhumans: Lupans; Certis Prime packbeasts and their herdsmen; six-limbed Pronacians who reminded me of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ green Martians, Cennesari tigers that raced in front of everyone else, and the dragon air force.
The woods gave us a respite, and I gathered the command group, including Roxanne, Furoletto, the Sammaran Lieutenant, Clarrett, Sergeant Stiegman commanding the Ulmian force, and the commanders of each of the alien groups.
“We won’t have long,” I said. “Whoever is manning this sector is better armed than I expected. We’re taking too many casualties.”
A missile detonated just within the edge of the wooded area we occupied.
“They’re homing in on us again. Anybody got a plan?”
“They’ll target you and decimate your dragons,” I said.
The dragon rumbled a laugh.
The Galactic Circle Veterinary Service Page 31
